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Ask and be persistent. BMW now (very recently that is) officially recognizes special orders and has a form specifically titled "BMW SPECIAL ORDER PROCEDURES."

If your dealer denies it or says they know nothing about it they are lying or just plain stupid.

Really? That may be enough to bring me back into the BMW fold........ah who am I kidding, they're still gonna say no.

Sorry, I'm skeptical of corporations in general. That said, I don't see why BMW AG would say No for a split armrest in the 3er or something small like that. It would greatly improve customer satisfaction without infringing on legal stuff (like, US spec requirements).

Really? That may be enough to bring me back into the BMW fold........ah who am I kidding, they're still gonna say no.

Sorry, I'm skeptical of corporations in general. That said, I don't see why BMW AG would say No for a split armrest in the 3er or something small like that. It would greatly improve customer satisfaction without infringing on legal stuff (like, US spec requirements).

would have to agree with this.. I'm trying to work on a 335d "individual" and it's interesting.. I can get some "options".. but with those options, come other "options", or lack thereof.

Example: I was told if I order a special trim, the premium package would override that "special trim" - so I can either order anthracite maple, or the premium package. And if I order "individual leather", it only comes as "extended" - so other panels are that color - and I would prefer just straight black except for the different leather color.

In all honesty, I'm know adding more "options" costs money - but if people are willing to pay..

Really? That may be enough to bring me back into the BMW fold........ah who am I kidding, they're still gonna say no.

Sorry, I'm skeptical of corporations in general. That said, I don't see why BMW AG would say No for a split armrest in the 3er or something small like that. It would greatly improve customer satisfaction without infringing on legal stuff (like, US spec requirements).

You can order the individual trim separately. They have different option codes like mine.

Jim, Thanks SOO much for posting this form and your experiences/insights with the Individual program. Much like the ED program, Individual is one of those hidden gems when you plan to order a new Bimmer.

I'm in the middle of ordering my 335d (Sept ED) with Saddle Brown interior (LeMans Blue/Msport) and i'm dying to get Piano Black as my trim option. The dark walnut is nice but man-o-man, the Piano Black is just sweet. I have it in my 2001 A6 (even though it was never offered as a US option), but it took me 2 years of searching through ebay.de and ebay.uk to find a complete trim set; 9 pieces for my A6. Arrgghhh!! I never want to go through that again.

Anyway, I just spoke to my CA and he responded with: "The Individual program is only available for the 7-series"....and as expected, I'll need to be persistent. So, I've included this form with my PB trim request and a copy of the Ind Program pdf for the 3 series (which lists all the codes and options etc). I also added a small quote from Matt Russell just to add some official language from BMWNA:

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See also this excerpt from BMW Individual/M Brand Manager Matt Russell:
"All BMW Individual options available to European markets are available to North American customers. Ordering is available through every one of BMW's dealers. There's an order form dealers can put together for customers interested in having Individual work done. The dealers submit that order form old fashioned style (via fax) or they can scan and e-mail it to BMWNA's automotive sales department where there is a contact who receives individual requests and special orders all day long. That contact has a bridge directly to Germany and she'll find out how long it'll take to do whatever the customer is requesting, and she'll reply to the dealer with the timeframe and the price. If the customer is satisfied with the response, they can then go ahead and order the car. Individual is most popular on the 7-series and the M3 and is growing in popularity.

Just make sure your dealer knows about the special order form. If they don't have it or don't know about it, it's available via a quick e-mail to the BMWNA automotive sales department, which every dealer knows how to get in touch with."
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Jim, Thanks SOO much for posting this form and your experiences/insights with the Individual program. Much like the ED program, Individual is one of those hidden gems when you plan to order a new Bimmer.

I'm in the middle of ordering my 335d (Sept ED) with Saddle Brown interior (LeMans Blue/Msport) and i'm dying to get Piano Black as my trim option. The dark walnut is nice but man-o-man, the Piano Black is just sweet. I have it in my 2001 A6 (even though it was never offered as a US option), but it took me 2 years of searching through ebay.de and ebay.uk to find a complete trim set; 9 pieces for my A6. Arrgghhh!! I never want to go through that again.

Anyway, I just spoke to my CA and he responded with: "The Individual program is only available for the 7-series"....and as expected, I'll need to be persistent. So, I've included this form with my PB trim request and a copy of the Ind Program pdf for the 3 series (which lists all the codes and options etc). I also added a small quote from Matt Russell just to add some official language from BMWNA:

==============
See also this excerpt from BMW Individual/M Brand Manager Matt Russell:
"All BMW Individual options available to European markets are available to North American customers. Ordering is available through every one of BMW's dealers. There's an order form dealers can put together for customers interested in having Individual work done. The dealers submit that order form old fashioned style (via fax) or they can scan and e-mail it to BMWNA's automotive sales department where there is a contact who receives individual requests and special orders all day long. That contact has a bridge directly to Germany and she'll find out how long it'll take to do whatever the customer is requesting, and she'll reply to the dealer with the timeframe and the price. If the customer is satisfied with the response, they can then go ahead and order the car. Individual is most popular on the 7-series and the M3 and is growing in popularity.

Just make sure your dealer knows about the special order form. If they don't have it or don't know about it, it's available via a quick e-mail to the BMWNA automotive sales department, which every dealer knows how to get in touch with."

This is where I found the pdf for the 3 series individual program/choices. You will find a similar pdf for the X5 and it will include those individual colors/trims/options.

I only wish we had an idea of the additional cost for these options. Maybe BMWNA's point of view is: "you have to ask, then you can't afford it". I think the general rule of thumb on pricing is:
Trim: $1K
Advanced sound/EPS: $2k
Ext color: unsure?
Interior leather: ?

I built my 335d on BMW UK's website to see how it looks with other trims. With BMWUK, you can see some of those Individual options come up and their associated prices (all in GBP though; not $).

Thanks again Jim! The pix of your SB/PB interior were one of the motivating factors for pushing my CA on the PB trim. I had an E92 configured and ordered for my ED and just loved the Bamboo Anthracite trim and how it looked with the Saddle Brown. But when I changed my order to the 335d I was a bit disappointed that dark walnut was the only decent looking trim option against SB (IMHO). DW is nice but the Piano Black is just too darn sweet...and unique...and fairly rare...on what will be a rare 3 series in itself.

I'll report back on my progress with my CA and getting this PB order processed.....

This is where I found the pdf for the 3 series individual program/choices. You will find a similar pdf for the X5 and it will include those individual colors/trims/options.

I only wish we had an idea of the additional cost for these options. Maybe BMWNA's point of view is: "you have to ask, then you can't afford it". I think the general rule of thumb on pricing is:
Trim: $1K
Advanced sound/EPS: $2k
Ext color: unsure?
Interior leather: ?

I built my 335d on BMW UK's website to see how it looks with other trims. With BMWUK, you can see some of those Individual options come up and their associated prices (all in GBP though; not $).

Good luck!

I'm working on either an E90 M3 or 335d individual order, but I have a limited schedule for ED, so it may be that the 335d will be out of production by the time I order the vehicle.. which might push me into an E90 M3

Jim, which hard drive are you using for your audio files? There have been many posts on various boards about larger hard drives that don't work because they need more power than the USB jack provides. Sounds like only 4200 RPM drives work and most are smaller than 240gb, but it seems you have found one that works. Would you mind replying with the model number?

Jim, which hard drive are you using for your audio files? There have been many posts on various boards about larger hard drives that don't work because they need more power than the USB jack provides. Sounds like only 4200 RPM drives work and most are smaller than 240gb, but it seems you have found one that works. Would you mind replying with the model number?

Jim E,
Just to put some closure on my ordering process, here is the build sheet (attached) sent to me from my CA to confirm that my Piano Black Trim (code: XE8) had been added. We pickup our D in Munich in early Sept. Can't wait!!

Jim E,
Just to put some closure on my ordering process, here is the build sheet (attached) sent to me from my CA to confirm that my Piano Black Trim (code: XE8) had been added. We pickup our D in Munich in early Sept. Can't wait!!

Jim E,
Just to put some closure on my ordering process, here is the build sheet (attached) sent to me from my CA to confirm that my Piano Black Trim (code: XE8) had been added. We pickup our D in Munich in early Sept. Can't wait!!

Thanks again for the help and insight!

Cheers,
-Ted

Did you end up paying retail for the piano black? Or where you able to get wholesale for your ED?
Or is it really, if you have to ask you can't afford it?

Retail was about $1K and the ED gave me a slight discount in the $950 range. For me, this is a car that I will have for 8-10 years and I already have the piano black trim in my 2001 A6 Avant (read some of my previous posts in this thread).

1 - Can a special order now be performed on an ED car?
2 - How is this stuff residualized?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeddyBGame

Jim E,
Just to put some closure on my ordering process, here is the build sheet (attached) sent to me from my CA to confirm that my Piano Black Trim (code: XE8) had been added. We pickup our D in Munich in early Sept. Can't wait!!

Thanks again for the help and insight!

Cheers,
-Ted

I'm picking up a new M3 next month with Piano Black trim in Munich - it's ordered the same way.. just a special form to fax over.

Residualized just like the rest of the car - it's just like any other option, you just have to know how to ask and get the option.

Jim, your help was great! I had an individual interior lined up as well, but just didn't have time to work with the ///M division and get the interior the way I wanted - so I cancelled the rust brown. I'll definitely post a few pics